Riyadh : The Kingdom does not allow dual nationality, said Mohammad Jasser Al-Jasser, spokesman for Civil Status. However, the citizenship of a Saudi female will not be revoked if her husband alone obtains a foreign nationality.
“The Kingdom will cancel the citizenship of any Saudi citizen who obtains a foreign nationality without prior permission of the Interior Ministry,” Al-Jasser said. He added that Saudi citizenship will be taken away from any Saudi citizen who is in the ranks of military in any foreign government, without the authorization of the Saudi government. The same applies to citizens who work for foreign governments in a current state of war with Saudi Arabia.
“According to the nationality system of Saudi Arabia, dual nationality is not allowed in compliance with Article 11, which stipulates that no Saudi citizen is allowed to obtain a foreign nationality without prior permission of the Council of Ministers. If a citizen obtained a foreign nationality before acquiring the permission, the government still retains the right to revoke the person’s Saudi citizenship in accordance with Article 13 of the nationality system,” he explained.
He added that, in the case of a Saudi citizen who has obtained a dual nationality, his Saudi wife will not have her citizenship right revoked, unless the wife decides that she too will follow the new citizenship of the husband, with the approval of the Minister of Interior on the matter.
“Underage children — minors — will lose their Saudi citizenship when the father’s nationality changes, and will take the chosen nationality of the father in compliance with the special regulation of nationality system. Despite this, they can restore their Saudi nationality in the first year of their adulthood,” he confirmed.